Minutes on Indian Education by Thomas Babington Macaulay

Thomas Babington Macaulay

VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS

About this ebook

This is a copy of Macaulay’s Minutes on Indian Education; first published in February 1835. This is being published by Victoria Institutions as part of its efforts at illuminating the England’s contribution to the South Asian Subcontinent (Pakistan, India & Bangladesh) and the World. It remains to be said that this document is only one among the innumerable pieces of evidences that points to the fact that England had, many times, selflessly aimed for the development of the native populations in many nations, where they had come into political authority.

This document was to lead to the issuing of a resolution by the then Governor General of India, Lord Bentinck in March 1835, declaring that English Classical literature and language were to be taught to the natives of India.

In many ways, this attitude does stand in sharp contrast to the centuries old local attitude of blocking the development of others in the community. This cunning attitude has been, and still is, a persevering social code of conduct in India. When the people of England gave the South Asians English, sciences, mathematics, codes of civil and penal jurisdiction, rule of law and much else, they were in fact acting in a most guileless manner; this type of behaviour if exhibited by anyone now shall be categorised as evidencesof pure gullibility and utter foolishness.

There is need for to at least show a sense of gratitude to these benefactors who came to South-Asia as part of a most improbable incident in history; - instead of placing faith in the rhetoric and false talk of the immense swindlers and freebooters who have had the chance to befool everyone in the land area currently called India.